Tag Archives: criticism
Tim Wise: Hateful Bigot *Updated*
The following are statements made by prominent leftist “anti-racist” author and lecturer, Tim Wise. He regularly appears on CNN, MSNBC, and PBS, along with speaking at college campuses around the country weekly. I am currently finishing a debate with Mr. Wise, where these quotes from him provide some context. Simply put, if you’re a fan of Tim Wise then you aren’t anti-hate:
“Because the conservative right and all of it’s members are, at some level or another, racists, without a single exception…I dare anyone to prove me wrong…find me one such person who doesn’t believe that blacks, for instance, are either inherently or culturally defective relative to whites (both racist beliefs)…” [Screenshot]
Lawrence O’Donnell vs. Herman Cain
The words desperate, pathetic, and vapid don’t fully describe Lawrence O’Donnell’s recent interview. O’Donnell tried to use murdered civil rights victims, Vietnam vets, homosexuality… and the performer of the Monday Night Football opening theme song, in an attempt to publicly humiliate Cain. Herman Cain must really get under the skin of leftists. The media double standard is obvious, but the drive and enthusiasm O’Donnell displayed trying to humiliate Cain, is not only contemptible, it’s kind of just sad.
The Absurdity of Michelle Alexander and “The New Jim Crow”
Michelle Alexander is a law professor and former lawyer who has written the very popular book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” Alexander believes that due to the targeted mass incarceration of people of color, we are now living in a “New Jim Crow.” Alexander explains that because so many young black men have been through the prison system, they are legally being discriminated against in employment, housing, education, public benefits, and jury service, just as their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents once were under slavery and Jim Crow laws. Alexander describes the black community as being in a “caste” system, helpless to further their status as long as this “New Jim Crow” system is in place. Her solution is to build a “major social movement” to dismantle the “caste” system. Alexander however, is wrong in this strangely worded, hyperbolic, and confused book.
Is Our Justice System “The New Jim Crow”
On March 30th colorlines.com posted an article titled “Michelle Alexander: More Black Men in Prison Than Were Enslaved in 1850.” The article represents a very common belief by racialists about the American justice system: essentially that it is severely racist. The article states: “It’s a heartbreaking, but often understated, reality that America’s criminal justice system imprisons black folks at astonishingly high rates.” It certainly hasn’t been understated in this article, with direct comparisons to Jim Crow laws, and a vague comparison to slavery. It is heartbreaking, but what is the implication? What exactly are we meant to be heartbroken about? That so many blacks commit crimes? That we have unfair laws? Or is it that only racial discrimination could be the cause? While this is probably the most important question, it is typically just treated as a given that racism must be the primary cause. With the type of language that is used throughout the article, and by racialists in general, it is as if the police are imprisoning completely innocent men.
The Racialists “Evidence”
In a CNN interview Tim Wise said that in order to have an honest dialogue on race we need to understand “the way things actually are,” referring to racial discrimination. In fact, the very basis of the policy suggestions of racialism, such as affirmative action, rely on what experts like Wise propose as fact. In other words, if racialists don’t have evidence that our entire society is plagued with white supremacy then they have no case. This seems like a reasonable starting point, and many would consider Tim Wise one of the best for providing the factual side of racialism. Tavis Smiley on his PBS program said of Wise’s writing that “the data’s there, the studies are there, the evidence is there.” Michael Eric Dyson said that Wise is a “national treasure.” The famed author of the Afrocentric Manifesto, Molefi Kete Asante, said that Wise is “One of the brilliant voices of our time.” According to the Utne Reader Wise is one of the “25 Visionaries” of 2010. Wise is one of the most read racialist, he is constantly asked to speak at college campuses, and he is frequently on cable networks such as CNN to provide commentary on racial issues.
What’s Wrong With Racialists
The first problem with racialists is that their conclusions are factually untrue. Most people don’t make their decisions based on race unconsciously or otherwise. Most opposition to President Obama isn’t due to racism as they claim, nor was Hurricane Katrina large scale “ethnic cleansing”, as Tim Wise has written. Disparities among racial groups in education, housing, wealth, employment, health, and the justice system largely can’t be explained by discrimination and racism (all of this will be argued for in great detail).
Introduction to Racialism
When someone is in the unfortunate position of being in a sociology class, or a diversity training seminar, or reading people like Michael Eric Dyson or Tim Wise, one will most likely be exposed to a self proclaimed “anti-racist” crusader. When someone devotes his or her life and career to uncovering racism, a noble intention, then unfortunately his or her perception of society is likely to center around race. When bad things happen to “people of color,” it is inevitable that someone who professionally looks for racism will find what he or she is looking for.
